Canada NAFTA talks a priority for Premier-designate Doug Ford

20:42 12 june 2018

20:42 12 june 2018 Source:
thestar.com

Here's how Doug Ford's political views measure up against the PC voters who elected him

Here's how Doug Ford's political views measure up against the PC voters who elected him The former city councillor is often painted with a populist brush, and many of the commitments he unveiled on the campaign trail have a populist bent: &dollar;1 beer promotions; a 10 cents per litre cut in the price of gas; and a promise to fire the entire board of Hydro One, among them.

Newly elected Ontario Premier - designate Doug Ford said the toughest challenge he is expected to face during his transition period into Queen's Park will be compiling a cabinet to form his government.

Newly elected Ontario Premier - designate Doug Ford said the toughest challenge he is expected to face during his transition period into Queen's Park will be compiling a cabinet to form his government.

Premier-designate Doug Ford is indicating that NAFTA will be a key priority for his incoming Progressive Conservative government.

Ford, whose party defeated Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals in last Thursday’s election, underscored that keeping trade flowing with the United States is critical to Ontario’s economy.

The Tory leader will meet Wednesday morning at Queen’s Park with industry officials to discuss Canada’s continuing North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations with President Donald Trump’s administration.

On Thursday afternoon, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton will be in Toronto to brief the premier-designate on the contentious trade talks.

Doug Ford meeting with transition team

TORONTO - Ontario's incoming premier is meeting with his transition team as the Progressive Conservatives prepare to return to power in the province for the first time in 15 years. A spokeswoman for premier-designate Doug Ford says he is taking part in briefings Monday on how to implement his plan for the province. The Tories won a majority government in last week's election and Ford has said he expects the transition to power to take three weeks. A spokeswoman for premier-designate Doug Ford says he is taking part in briefings Monday on how to implement his plan for the province.

Newly elected Ontario Premier - designate Doug Ford said the toughest challenge he is expected to face during his transition period into Queen's Park will be compiling a cabinet to form his government.

Newly elected Ontario Premier - designate Doug Ford said the toughest challenge he is expected to face during his transition period into Queen's Park will be compiling a cabinet to form his government.

“I can tell you, on the trade deal south of the border, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the prime minister and our federal counterparts,” Ford said Sunday of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals.

“My number one priority is to protect the jobs here in Ontario, especially protect the steel workers and aluminum workers. That’s going to be a priority,” he said.

“We’re going to sit down with our federal counterparts. We’re going to stand united. I know all provinces should be standing united with our federal counterparts.”

While Ford’s government will not be sworn in until June 29, the NAFTA situation with the mercurial U.S. president is so critical, he wants to get up to speed.

About 80 per cent of all Ontario exports are shipped stateside and the province is the top trading partner of half of all American states.

Ontario PC party still sending text messages after winning election

Ontario PC party still sending text messages after winning electionThe text messages refer to "Premier Ford" although he does not officially hold that position until June 29, when he and his cabinet are set to be sworn in.

Newly elected Ontario Premier - designate Doug Ford said the toughest challenge he is expected to face during his transition period into Queen's Park will be compiling a cabinet to form his government.

Newly elected Ontario Premier - designate Doug Ford said the toughest challenge he is expected to face during his transition period into Queen's Park will be compiling a cabinet to form his government.

Ontario’s next premier has John Baird, a former foreign affairs minister on his transition team, so there is a high level of understanding of the trade circumstances.

As well, MacNaughton was a high-ranking official in former Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty’s government and appreciates the role of Queen’s Park in such matters.

Wynne, for her part, met with 37 U.S. governors since Trump’s election in 2016 in her bid to keep trade moving despite a protectionist administration.

“We have to send a signal to Donald Trump: Ontario will not be your doormat,” the Liberal premier said last month.

“Ontario has to show a united front.”

Doug Ford vows to build subways to Pickering, Markham .
Incoming premier Doug Ford says his government will one day build subways to Pickering and Markham. Ford made the claim after being asked about a dubious British study that suggests Toronto has the worst commute in North America.

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Newly elected Ontario Premier - designate Doug Ford said the toughest challenge he is expected to face during his transition period into Queen's Park will be compiling a cabinet to form his government.

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Newly elected Ontario Premier - designate Doug Ford said the toughest challenge he is expected to face during his transition period into Queen's Park will be compiling a cabinet to form his government.

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